Phase 1: Designing the process
Supporting Community Decision-Making from the Start
Key Skills
- Training & Onboarding
- Facilitation
- Communication
- Navigating Conflict
- Understanding of Community Dynamics
At a Glance
Designing a participatory budgeting (PB) process starts with community decision-making. In this phase, sometimes called “Writing the Rules,” a representative Steering Committee comes together to shape how the process will work. Their role is to make decisions that reflect the values, priorities, and lived experiences of their community.
Over the course of 6–12 sessions, the Steering Committee will work together to define the goals of the process, shape outreach and engagement strategies, set participation criteria, and create clear, equitable pathways for participation. A thoughtful and inclusive design phase helps ensure that every step that follows is grounded in community leadership.
To support meaningful representation, Steering Committee members should reflect the demographics of your community, with a focus on including historically underrepresented and marginalized voices.
Note: We recommend recruiting and selecting your Steering Committee during the planning phase. Once that’s complete, this chapter will guide you in onboarding members and supporting them to design a strong, community-led PB process. Please see our Steering Committee Recruitment and Selection Guide for a refresh on criteria to select the Steering Committee.
Ready to Get Started?
The PB Handbook gives you everything you need to plan, train, and run a successful participatory budgeting process. Subscribe to access all six chapters, customizable templates, quarterly office hours, and a community of PB practitioners across the country.